The Serenade: The Prince and the Siren [Daughters of the Empire 2] (BookStrand Publishing Romance) (33 page)

“There truly is a difference in cultures, which must be understood to produce successful alliances,” Lady Ravensdale noted softly, as if she were reading his mind.

Alejandro was momentarily engulfed by the aroma of dark French coffee, vanilla, and caramel, as crème brûlée and fresh raspberries were set before them.

“Indeed,” agreed Esteban, nodding to Lady Ravensdale, his eyes suddenly softened. “Lady Nicolette was correct in her assessment. Many outside of Spain do not comprehend that Spaniards would die, would risk everything, would even enter a war they expected to lose in order to defend their national honor.”

“This is why it is so insulting to a Spaniard to insinuate that he would lie.” Alejandro smiled at Mr. Bromberg.

“The Cubans suffered terribly.” Nicolette shook her head in disapproval. “How can all this philosophical banter ever be more important than the lives of real people?” she asked pointedly. There was a general murmur among the guests.

“True, Lady Nicolette,” Alejandro agreed softly, turning his spoon through the creamy custard as if it engrossed him. “It is always the people who matter. And the Cuban people were my people as well.” Inflicting suffering on one’s own people could never be justified. But he could not say it. Without exception, any criticism of the king would show up in Bromberg’s newspaper the next day. Alejandro shut his eyes briefly, feeling as if his heart would break and hating himself for his silence.

He wished he had been king. He would have taken different steps early on. All the funds that were needed for education and agriculture—for the Spanish people—used for a pointless war to reelect politicians. And the lives lost.

To hell with
honor
. He saw no honor in killing one’s own people to impress outsiders.

“It was at a great cost to Spain on every level,” Esteban stated quietly. “Does anyone here know the lives lost? Lady Elaina, I’m sure you know?”

“Thirty-six hundred on the side of the Americans,” Mr. Bromberg offered abruptly.

“And over fifty-five thousand Spaniards,” stated Lady Elaina.

“Fifty-five
thousand
!”
Madame Loubet was noticeably shaken
. “You can’t be serious!”

“Most were lost to disease,” Alejandro explained quietly. “Malaria and dysentery.”

“May their souls rest in peace. Let us toast to the nobility of the Spanish people.” Lord Ravensdale stood and raised his glass with feeling, nodding to Mr. Bromberg. “And to the loyalty of the Americans.”

His sincerity was contagious. All raised their glasses, though the mood was decidedly somber.

“Speaking of alliances,” infused
Madame Loubet
, her elaborate coiffure bobbing, “when can we expect to see a royal wedding, Your Highness?” She smiled with the expression of someone who wished approval.

“I hope that I may count you among my guests, Madame Loubet, when that happy event occurs,” Alejandro replied, bestowing his most charming smile upon her despite his discomfiture. He found the attacks on his person and his country, as angry as they made him, easier to contemplate than his marriage, which could not be long delayed. The necessity of forming a prestigious alliance was critical to Spain’s future.

“I thank you for the honor, Your Highness.” Madame Loubet beamed. “Nothing would please me more.”

“And may one inquire who is to be the bride?” asked Madame
Delcassé.

Alejandro felt some easiness beside him and turned to glance at Nicolette, who busied herself rearranging raspberries atop her
crème brûlée even as one escaped below the table
.

“I am not yet betrothed, so you cannot expect me to disclose the name of my intended, Madame
Delcassé
,” replied Alejandro, attempting to extend his most charming smile upon the ladies.

“Of course, Your Highness.” Madame Loubet touched her painted index finger to her lips, smiling with delight.

“One wishes your father a long and prosperous reign,” remarked Prime Minister Combes stiffly, “but when you are king, might we then expect to see a separation of church and state?”

“I hope I shall never live to see the separation of church and state in Spain.” Alejandro laughed at the absurdity of it. “A godless country is an empty reward.”

Nicolette glanced at him sideways, and there could be little doubt of her views on the subject. He found it astonishing that she held her tongue.

“It does not necessarily follow that such a separation results in a godless country,” stated Combes.

“Prime Minister Combes, t
hrough your efforts nearly ten thousand religious schools have been closed in France. Thousands of priests and nuns fled France rather than risk persecution. What impact do you think this has on religion?”

Monsieur Combes smiled proudly, clearly pleased with the outcome.

“I completely agree with the separation of church and state,” stated Nicolette, managing to add a raspberry to her spoon. “The church should not be running the country.”

Ah, there it is.
He had to wait a full thirty seconds
.

“That is a view I can respect, but I do not approve of the methods utilized, which were no less than the massacre of religion.” Alejandro was surprising himself. He was remarkably opinionated this evening.

“It was a very sad affair.” Lady Ravensdale stood and gently interjected with a smile, “Let us continue our conversation in the parlor. As you know, it is our English custom, and we are blessed to have the exceptionally talented Lady Nicolette as our private performer. Shall we retire to the sitting room for coffee, drinks, and music?”

Alejandro smiled. This was sure to be the highlight of an uncomfortable evening.

“I cannot think of anything I would like better,” remarked Madame Loubet.

Precisely his thoughts.

“I will be just a moment,” Lady Ravensdale added. “I promised my son he could attend the musical portion of our dinner party.”

Alejandro saw certain eyebrows raised, but to his way of thinking there was nothing odd about putting family, and especially one’s children,
first
. It might not be true in his family, but it was completely consistent with Spanish culture.

They removed to a striking but far-from-grand parlor, small and intimate, primarily peach in tone with ecru molding, a crystal chandelier in the middle of the room. The white marble fireplace displaying a painting of Lady Ravensdale and Nicolette at an early age caught the eye first, bronze candle sconces accenting each side of the painting. The piano was a lavish rosewood Bechstein. The flowers were yellow, dark orange, rose, lavender, and plum, bringing out the colors of a hand-woven Aubusson rug in dark orange, plum, and light blue under a stone table. Off to the side was a tea and coffee service along with an assortment of pastries.

He liked the room. Everything about the home and the family was warm.

Hot, at times.

As Alejandro watched Nicolette prepare to sing, moving her music stand next to the piano, he wondered why he could not keep his tongue in check whenever she was present. He had always been able to refrain from speech if it furthered his purposes.

Despite being forced to converse with others, his eyes continually returned to Nicolette, everything about her drawing him to her. The copper spangled fringe flapped against her ivory arms from a lavender satin armband, and lavender chiffon floated about her as she walked, the elaborate embroidery catching the light. Her eyes were like jewels in a mystic sea, and his eyes sought to meet hers.

She held everything he hoped for in her hands. God had played a very strange joke on him. Lady Nicolette did not like him, and yet she was his path to the divine.

They were as incompatible as could be imagined. He smiled to himself, reflecting that as long as they were not speaking to each other they were on the best of terms.

She moved toward him.

What was her purpose in approaching him? To kick him, stab him, or insult him? Or all three?

“Your Highness, let me show you to your seat.”

“Of course.” He followed her, almost stumbling, and his hand touched hers for a moment.

What is my affliction
? He was like a schoolboy, as if he had never known a woman.

“Your Highness, please,” she murmured under her breath, mischief in her eyes. “I thought we agreed that there would be no touching.”

“I beg you will forgive me, Lady Nicolette, as I will forgive you for kicking me.”

“That is very good of you, Your Highness, but I will not forgive you.”

“That is no surprise, Lady Nicolette. It would be too civilized on your part.”

“I cannot forgive you because you feel no remorse.”

“You were on the stage in front of hundreds of strangers flaunting your…your…” He had perfect control of himself except when in the company of this woman. He smiled at something that was said before returning to her. “And I am to be blamed for not thinking you a prim and proper lady? You gave a performance which was the most
sensuous
performance I have ever beheld. Every man in the room felt it.”

“It was a
role
, a part,” she seethed, turning toward him, flame in her eyes.

“Ah, I see. I understand now. It wasn’t real.” He straightened his white tie and the pale-blue sash across his torso, feeling his hand shaking even as he envisioned her performance. “Believe me, it
felt
real
.”

“Of course it was real. It was…it was…”

“Furthermore, I meant no slight to the music, far from it. I am mortified for having been less than perceptive and for having overlooked my duty.”

“Your
duty
, Prince Alejandro?” she repeated, the rage spreading from her eyes across her face.

“Mama, did we miss anything?” he heard in that piercing, high-pitched voice that children utilized when they were attempting to speak softly.

“No, dear, of course not. We wouldn’t start without you. But after this it’s straight to bed.” Lady Ravensdale returned with her son, completely dressed in his Sunday best in something resembling a Lord Fauntleroy suit. His black curls were unruly, and his sapphire-blue eyes twinkled with excitement, but he was otherwise in excellent behavior. Alejandro wished he could say the same for some of the other guests.

“Yes, Mama.” It warmed his heart to see such a happy child. At the same time he felt a strange ache as he inevitably did around children.

“Nicolette, are you ready?” Lady Ravensdale asked, but it appeared to be more of a command.

Alejandro turned to see Esteban, who was standing against the wall, motioning that he preferred to stay there.

Even though he did his best to ignore her, Nicolette gave him one last look of daggers before regally advancing to the podium while her mother gracefully glided to the piano. The child moved to sit in Lord Ravensdale’s lap.

He smiled, the family scene before him so sweet, so…

What is this?
As she began to sing, he sat up in his chair abruptly. It was the piece he loved so well, Mimi’s song.

My pastime

is making lilies and roses.

I love all things

that have gentle magic,